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TALENTED violinist Suay Doğanay aims to spread positivity through her vibrant performances, and is looking forward to more exciting days as a new member of the diverse and multi-talented Bahraini Philharmonic Orchestra.
The 32-year-old Turkish artist first picked up the violin at the age of five when her father Timur, a tenor opera singer, thought it would be a good idea for her to get involved in the arts.
Since then, there has been no looking back.
Suay enthralled audiences in countries around the world before deciding to settle in the island of sunshine - Bahrain - in 2019.
“While I was performing in Cannes over three months, I met the owner of three popular eateries/lounges in Bahrain,” said the international instrumentalist from Manama.
“She brought me down to Bahrain to entertain people and I fell in love with this country.
“My aim is to spread love for music and sound through my violin, because it is my passion. It helps me express myself.”
Suay started playing the violin as a student of Professor Selaattin Yunkuş at Istanbul University State Music School in 1995.
She then moved on to Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University State Music School as a high school student in 2004 and became a pupil of Prof Nuri İyicil. After his death, she was guided by Prof Çiğdem İyicil, until she graduated in 2014 under the tutelage of associate professor Hande Özyürek.
“Positivity is everything for me. If someone is having a bad day, I hope to make him or her smile and feel the same energy that I do,” she said.
“As a musician, I believe we can make a difference using our talents. We need to spread joy especially during a time when so much is going on around the world.
“We need more connections and less ego.”
Suay has played with the Turkish National Youth Philharmonic Orchestra all around Europe including in Germany, Belgium, Holland and Greece. She even performed with her father between 2004 and 2007 at the International Şile Cloth Cultural Festival.
Suay became a music teacher in 2008 in Darüşşafaka High School where she enriched youngsters with her experience and knowledge and took part in masterclasses with the likes of Prof Lukas David and Pierre Amoyal as well as Prof Joshua Epstein.
She also participated in major orchestras, concerts and festivals such as the Beethoven Fest in Germany, Belgium, Holland and Austria.
In 2013, she took part in Bursa State Symphony Orchestra and shared the stage with leading conductors like Oğuzhan Balcı. She also played in the Turkish-Greek Orchestra conducted by Cem Mansur in Chios and Seferihisar.
She played her electro violin with leading DJs such as Burak Yeter and Funky C.
In 2016, she worked all summer season in Nikki Beach Bodrum.
“My dream was always to play the electronic violin like the famous violinist Vanessa Mae,” said Suay who also has a fun fashion line that is locally made, featuring fabrics from Bahrain.
“Now I’m living my dream with my violin - the Yamaha 150 - every chance I get.
“I owe all this to my father because without his help, I would have never found my true love - the violin,” said Suay, who mostly plays afro beats, techno and deep house during her performances.
The artists is now over the moon about joining the Bahrain Philharmonic with her acoustic violin.
“That is such an honour,” she added.
“I’m surrounded by so many talented instrumentalists and hope that together we can continue making beautiful music.”
Suay is hoping to launch an international music company that also ventures into events one day. Until then, she will continue strumming her positivity along and teaching the violin to all ages, starting from six.
For details, follow @suaydoganay on Instagram.
